Michael:

I carried her back to her mother's apartment. "Did you get that thing done?" I asked. Even though I fully intended on getting her into some sort of bed I was still concerned about her being pregnant. I was saying this as I pulled her closer and closer tome.

"Yeah. We're cool. Don't worry," she said kissing my neck.

I put her down and swung her in front of me. We started making out in her vestibule before one of her neighbors trying to get by cleared his throat to remind us that we should be on our way.

So we went up to her apartment and into her room. She put on some old school Lennon and climbed into bed.

I held onto her and we both tried not to notice how wrong we were being. I mean, we barely got by last time. But then we started kissing and forgot about it all. It was okay to kiss if we were drinking. We weren't passing our friendship barrier. We just wouldn't discuss it.

But we did let it go past kissing and heavy petting. I totally hadn't planned on it. Even in my drunken (okay, not really that drunk, but I was playing the drunk part well so she wouldn't freak out) state I had good intentions. I didn't want to let ourselves do anything that could make us regret…well… anything. She was better than all that. She was better than other woman.

But she had other ideas.

"Did you bring..."

I reached into my pocket (which somehow was on the floor by her bed, don't ask me how my pants had been removed and I was simply in my boxers), and took out my wallet. Very cliche to have a condom in a wallet but after last time I took no chances. The other woman I'd been with had kept a box in her drug cabinet. Mia wasn't the type to do that.

I noticed she was watching as I put the condom on. I used to be self conscious when Serena would look at my privates (I know now that I had competition and therefore reason to feel weird). But Mia was looking with interest. She'd never seen anything before and was almost studying my anatomy.

"What, see something you like?" I teased.

She blushed, "No. I don't want to see that right now," she said with a giggle.

I covered my mouth with hers and didn't let her see it again for a very long time.


"I have work," Iwhispered early the next morning (okay, at eleven thirty). I had showered and dressed before I woke her up.

"Okay," she mumbled, rubbing her eyes.

"What are your plans for the night?" I asked, putting on my shoes.

"Dunno. My mom is coming home tomorrow afternoon so nothing too much."

"Right. Maybe we could all come over and play cards."

"Yeah. Sure," she replied self consciously pulling the sheets to cover herself up. WHen we are drunk it's okay for me to see her naked, but never in a totally sober state.

"Okay. I'll tell the guys."

"Okay," she replied, rubbing her temples.

"I put some asprin on your night table. Don't drink any orange juice, okay?"

"Why?" she asked.

"The acids will kill your throat if...no, when you throw up."

She smirked, "I won't throw up."

"First time for everything," I replied with a half a smile.


I realized while I was waxing some guys car that Mia would never want to look at me as anything other than a friend with benefits if I didn't get my act together. I started thinking about how I could make myself an attractive boyfriend type person. 1) I'll get serious about the music.

2), I'll go back to school. Get a degree and not look like a total loser. Yeah. That's what I'll do. Not Columbia though. Then my parents would expect me to use my degree for a nine to five job.

I got to Mia's apartment and found everyone already there. Including Lilly, Tina and Shameeka. Shameeka looked at me funny, then at Mia who was laughing at something Kevin said. Shameeka totally knew something was up. Or that something was going on. Lucky. I have no idea what is going on myself. Maybe Mia's said something to her. Maybe she'll confront me and say that I'm playing with Mia's emotions because she's in love with me. Then I can honestly say I'm not and that I'm in love with her too and then voila we begin our dating lives.

"What are we playing?"
"We're teaching the girls poker," Chaz (who was home for a weekend)replied. "Explain to them that strip poker is good."

"Don't be a pervert. My sister is here," I replied. "Deal me in."
We weren't drinking that night. No one had any money to buy anything (pretzels were the chips for poker). So I had no excuse for wanting to kiss Mia.

No excuse for staring at her. No excuse for the jealousy I was feeling when she was talking to Kevin. Where was her other hand? Was it rubbing his thigh like she did to me the night before?
I pretended to drop something and looked. No touching. But she was wearing a skirt. Now that is a nice sight.

"Michael, don't be such a pervert and look up her skirt," Lilly demanded. "Come on. Play."


I ventured to the living room and went through her DVD collection. R2-D2: Under the Dome after I ran out of pretzels. The movie I gave her for Kwanzaa last year. I know, she's not of African descent. But see, I had forgotten to get her a Christmas gift and she had bought me a Hannukah gift. So since Kwanza is after Christmas I bought her a gift and told her I was waiting for that. I'm weird.

"What you got there?" Tina asked.

I turned, "Oh, hey. Nothing. Just a movie."

"Wanna watch?" she asked, coming closer to me.

"I um…" I started, backing away, "I need to get some water."

I went back to the kitchen and saw Mia openly flirting with Kevin. His arm was on the back of her chair and she was giving him the eyes she gave to me when we kissed. "Mia, wanna watch a movie?" I asked, interrupting whatever bonehead story Kevin was telling her.

She looked up at me, "Yeah. Let's go back in there," she said jumping up. "You guys can watch or play or whatever," she said to everyone else.

I sat on the lone arm chair so Tina wouldn't come near me. Mia sat cross legged on her couch with Tina. "This is boring," Tina whined.

"Then go play cards," Mia replied.

Tina shot her a dirty look. "Why can't we just watch something else?"

"Like what?" I asked.

"How about Mona Lisa Smile. You like Kirsten Dunst, don't you?"

"In a cheerleading uniform yeah. Not that chick flick. R2-D2 rocks my fucking cock," I explained. She hated when we cursed. It was looked down on in her religion.

"Shameeka is a cheerleader," Mia said finally.

"Not my type," I replied.

"What is then?" Tina asked. I was kind of surprised she was being so forward with me.

"I go for dirtyblondes like Kirsten." Maybe she'll catch the hint. She being either Mia or Tina.

"I have to go home or my parent's will get mad," Tina said after awhile.

I waved bye to her.

"Um, Wilhem isn't around."

"Do you want Lars to walk you?" Mia offered, not taking her eyes off the screen.

"Um, he's around?"

"Of course. Would Dad ever let me stay here alone? He's staying in my mom's room."

"Oh. I guess."

"I'll walk with you," Kevin offered coming in. "I have to do some work in the morning for my dad's office. Let's go."

Tina looked let down, but I kind of smirked. Mia totally saw through all that.


Mia and I waited until it was just Lilly and Chaz left before we started cuddling on the couch. Just cuddling. Platonic. Shameeka had left with Kevin and Tina. Orlando left when he realized he wasn't getting any that night. He even tried putting the moves on Tina, but to no avail. The girl is warm for my form and wants no one else. BUt I wish she would.

We watched Mona Lisa Smile while the other two were in the kitchen playing cards.

"I thought you didn't watch chick flicks,"Mia teased.

"Normally no. But you weakened me first by watching a Star Wars character movie."

"I see," she said turning to me so our noses were touching. Were we about to have our first sober kiss?

"Michael, we're leaving. Coming?" Chaz asked, poking his head in.

Mia turned away and pulled away from me. "Oh, uh, I'm gonna wait til Mia falls asleep. She hates being alone."

Lilly came in and looked at me suspiciously. "Right. Lars is here, isn't he?" she asked.

Mia glared at my sister. "Yes. But it's not like we hang out. He's in there reading about guns."

"I'll be home," I promised. No I won't.

"Right. Okay. We might go to the all night theater if you guys are interested," Lilly invited.

"Nah. We're in the middle of a movie," Mia replied. "But thanks anyways."

"Remember what I said," Lilly said, looking at me. "Don't forget it."


Mia and I went into her bed. I left a pair of flannel pajama's here just in case. "Post Armageddon lifemate," I started. "Orlando Bloom or Johnny Depp?"

"Orli by far. Skinny. Perfect amount of chest hair. Same back to you. Britney Spears or Hilary Duff?"

"Neither. I'd let the human race die out. Orlando or the Schwartz men?"

"Which Schwartz?"

"Either."

"Hmmm… there is a toughie. All have their good points. Orli…well, he's British. Robert has those intense eyes.... And Jason…well, he's just bangin. I cannot explain his sex appeal. It's God given and ....It's like picking a favorite child."

I laughed. "Okay. Robert or Taylor?"

"Robert. I can't deal with men prettier than me. He's be in the bathroom doing his hair forever. And Taylor would steal my clothes."

"And what, Robert is a man's man?" Oh I bet he is. I have heard rumors of him and Taylor being together and adopting a baby.

"Totally. Buffy or Xena?"

"Plead the fifth," I replied hugging her closer to me. I liked just cuddling with her. Made everything seem more real.


MIA:

I'll admit it. I'm totally in love with him. I love how he is so protective over me with the other guys. Even though they look at me like a little sister. They think it's funny, but would never admit it to him.

But Grandemere would not approve. She says you can only marry a Catholic if you date them (and I have to marry one since I'm the heir to the throne so a relationship with Michael would never work. He'd never convert since he is against organized religion altogether).Therefore, that is what is holding me back from dating Michael. And Lilly has threatened bodily harm against me. And if she did anything to me she'd be put in a medieval Genovian prison. I couldn't let that happen to her.Well, also he's never made a move for me soberly.

Even if I have been basically sober each time we've kissed or made out. I pretend to be drunk so get him to kiss me.

"Hey, Mia," Huck, my old boyfriend, said, sitting next to me in the cafeteriaon an early day in March.

"Hey, what's up?"

"Nothing. What did you get on your Research Paper?"

"An A. You?"

"A minus. Peterson has it out for me. Always gives me a minus."

"Well, he probably is just intimidated over you. He is just a fat little gnome and you are…well, young and good looking."

"You still think I'm good looking?"

"Huck, that was never our problem," I said with a laugh.

"What was?"

I stirred my veggie soup. "I dunno. What have you been up to?"

He shrugged. "Me and Danielle broke up. She's dating some guy in college or something. What is it with girls and older guys?"

"Well," I said thoughtfully. "I guess it's because they are usually so much more mature, ya know?" And I would know.

"How?"

He sincerely was curious. "They have gone through more. Deal with reality more. They don't rely on their friends for everything. They know what they want and they go for it. No wishy washiness."

"How old do you have to be before you get all this? I mean, I'm a year old than you and I don't have that going on."

"You are more mature than Napoleon."

"My three year old nephew is more mature than Napoleon."

I laughed, "I just…I didn't want to sleep with him," I heard myself admitting. No one had ever questioned our break up before, and he wasn't either. But I found myself admitting this to him. I don't know why.

"I wouldn't sleep with him either," he said seriously, but trying to make me laugh.

"That's good to know."

"Hey, um, can I ask you a favor?" he asked.

"Sure," I said slurping my soup. Big Princess No-No. I stopped myself and dipped the bowl away from me as my grandmother told me to.

"Well, I have the prom coming up and I was wondering if you would go. I know it's still early-"

"Sure. It'd be fun," I replied. "You know Grandmere loves dressing me up for these types of things."

"Really? Mia, you are the best," he said hugging me. "And if you need a date for the junior prom or anything…"

"Oh yeah. I forgot about that," I replied. "Um, yeah. That'd be great." For some reason I thought of Michael right then. He probably won't be too thrilled at this news. He's against the prom and all, but he'd go if I asked him. But I'd also forgotten about it. I know, shocking coming from me. But I honestly just liked hanging out with the guys now. And the girls, but the guys were easier to hang out with. You didn't plan anything major, you just were there.

"Then it's two dates," he said knocking his knuckles against the tables. "Don't worry about anything. I've got it covered."

"I think I can probably get us a limo," I teased.

He laughed, "Okay. Hey, maybe we can hang out this weekend," he suggested.

"Um, sure. My band is playing at a club. You can come by if you want, you are eighteen, right?"

"As of last month, yeah."

"Great. It's at Palindrome. Off-"

"Yeah, I know where it is. I'll see you there. Maybe we can get dinner or something after."

"Okay. Sounds good."


"Amelia, what is this great news you have?" Grandmere asked, sipping her sidecar.

"I have a date to my prom and to the senior prom. We can go shopping."

"I thought your beau was out of school," she said, taking a drag of her cigarette.

"Huh? No. I don't have a beau. This is Albert Huckabee. Huck, remember him?"

"Oh. I had thought you were dating that Moscovitz boy. Pfruit, good riddance on him then, right? Right. Huckabee was always a nice boy. His background check says he was even an altar boy back in Florida.We will go shopping in a few weeks. I will talk to my designers about their thoughts."

"Okay. How's Dad been?" I asked.

"Off with the latest woman of his fancy. He knows that they are after his jewels but he seems happy with it."

I nearly choked on my tea but acted princessy and ignored her flub. Well, knowing her it wasn't a flub and she meant it in the sexual sense. "Of course. He'll settle down eventually."

"I just fear that someone is going to come around claiming to be his love child."

"Now now, he's totally sterile and can't have anymore kids. Don't worry. I'll just be the only Renaldo grandchild."

She rolled her eyes. "Just my luck."


"Hey, um, did you wanna see a movie tonight after the show?" Michael asked while we set up our stuff on the stage.

"Oh, uh, well, I already had plans."

He looked at me like I was crazy. "With who?" he looked over at Orlando accusingly. Then at Kevin.

"Huck."

"Huck? Who the fuck is Huck?" Kevin said loudly.

I laughed, "My ex-boyfriend. Huck."

"The puppy dog?" Michael asked softly.

I shook my head, "Don't say that. He's very nice."

"So he can come with us then."

"We're getting something to eat."

"Oh."

"He's taking me to his prom," I said softly.

"Oh. He's one of them," he said with a snort.

"Excuse me?" I asked with a raised eyebrow. "He's coming to mine with me."

"Wait, you are going to your prom? You never said anything to me."

"Didn't know I needed your permission, Dad," I said, copying his tone. "Have a problem with it?"

"No, why would I?" he asked, looking kind of hurt.

"Just making sure. See you in a little while."

Michael sounded pissed on stage. He never looked at me like he normally did. This was maybe…what, my third show? He knew I was nervous and he looked at me to make me feel better. The only thing he did, like he always did, was hit my bum and wish me luck.

I saw Huck in the back of the place drinking a soda and talking to his friend Charlie. At the end of the show I said bye to the guys and went to see those two. "Hey."

"Hey, you don't mind if Charlie comes too, right?"

"Nah. I get to be around two good looking guys."

"Who is that guy?" Huck asked. "The lead singer guy?"

"Oh, that's just Michael," I replied. "He's my best friend."

"Why is he giving me that look?"

I looked back at Michael who was busying himself, talking to Tina. How the hell she got in here I have no clue. He was tossing his head back laughing. Guys do not think she is funny. Not in the Michael sense of the word.

"Because he's a massive tool," I replied. "Let's go."